TicketySplit feedback - official discussion

yorkie2

I agree that MSE's Ticketysplit has many limitations.

Is the site you found called Trainsplit? It must be as I know of no others, so I agree it's better. The owners of Trainsplit have met me many times and I've given them plenty of feedback. Not all my suggestions are implemented yet and some will take many more months of hard work. Eventually it will have features such as being able to choose your own seat.

I would also be happy to meet MSE's Ticketysplit team if they want any assistance, but I would say they have a very long way to go, as they are so far behind Trainsplit.

One key difference at present is that Trainsplit will sell tickets, and Ticketysplit re-directs you to Thetrainline.com. That's a major drawback for Ticketysplit, given Thetrainline's infamous fees!

wealdroam

yorkie2 wrote: »

One key difference at present is that Trainsplit will sell tickets, and Ticketysplit re-directs you to Thetrainline.com. That's a major drawback for Ticketysplit, given Thetrainline's infamous fees!

Ok, we all know about "Thetrainline's infamous fees", but why have you not mentioned that Trainsplit charge a 10% commission on the savings made?

Both with Ticketysplit and with Trainsplit the potential customer can use the information provided to buy elsewhere and thus avoid the fees of thetrainline or raileasy respectively.

It really is disingenuous to suggest that Ticketysplit are any worse in this respect because they use thetrainline.

yorkie2

wealdroam wrote: »

Ok, we all know about "Thetrainline's infamous fees", but why have you not mentioned that Trainsplit charge a 10% commission on the savings made?

Both with Ticketysplit and with Trainsplit the potential customer can use the information provided to buy elsewhere and thus avoid the fees of thetrainline or raileasy respectively.

Thetrainline charges fees regardless, so you can be spending more than you would spend at a station or on any other website.

Trainsplit identifies savings and passes on 90% of the savings to the customer, this is very different to charging fees for all transactions!

Yes, people can use the results and book manually on a website of their choice, of course they can.

wealdroam wrote: »

It really is disingenuous to suggest that Ticketysplit are any worse in this respect because they use thetrainline.

Ticketysplit are not simply worse 'because they use thetrainline' but it is clear that Ticketysplit is far behind Trainsplit in terms of features, and the fact they can't even sell tickets directly is just one example out of many.

wealdroam

yorkie2 wrote: »

Thetrainline charges fees regardless, so you can be spending more than you would spend at a station or on any other website.

As does Trainsplit.

Comparing like for like, everything that Trainsplit sells has a fee attached - 10% of the saving.

yorkie2 wrote: »

Trainsplit identifies savings and passes on 90% of the savings to the customer, this is very different to charging fees for all transactions!

Can we re-phrase that to read "Trainsplit identifies savings and charges the customer 10% of that saving"?

yorkie2 wrote: »

Yes, people can use the results and book manually on a website of their choice, of course they can.

Good, we agree on something... actually we agree on a lot of things.

yorkie2 wrote: »

Ticketysplit are not simply worse 'because they use thetrainline' but it is clear that Ticketysplit is far behind Trainsplit in terms of features, and the fact they can't even sell tickets directly is just one example out of many.

I agree with that too.

The point I was taking issue with is your suggestion that Ticketysplit was charging fees (via thetrainline) but Trainsplit did not charge fees (via raileasy). I had hoped I had made that clear by using the phrase "in this respect", but clearly failed.

We can all see that both Ticketysplit and Trainsplit both charge fees.

albertking

clicked 'first class', but fares come up 'standard class' only.

Is this a glitch?

Albert

yorkie2

albertking wrote: »

clicked 'first class', but fares come up 'standard class' only.

Is this a glitch?

Albert

Can you provide full details?

xadoc

I am sad to say that this is the first instance where I have felt moneysavingexpert is using its position to take make money from unwary consumers.

I trusted MSE to always provide the cheapest/best way of doing things. But given that this tool uses thetrainline.com and does not mention that you can avoid commission by using other sites (yes, lots of us know this, but that's not the point) you have really lost my trust.

Yes, I know the site needs to self-fund. And this tool was built with thetrainline.com. But up until now the site has always been very clear that editorial is not affected by income and is impartial. Non-affiliate links are always posted and links to site for which there is no affiliate option are posted if a better deal for consumers.

This does not seem to be the case in this instance and I am really disappointed in MSE. Trust one breached is not easily regained.

wealdroam

xadoc wrote: »

I am sad to say that this is the first instance where I have felt moneysavingexpert is using its position to take make money from unwary consumers.

I trusted MSE to always provide the cheapest/best way of doing things. But given that this tool uses thetrainline.com and does not mention that you can avoid commission by using other sites (yes, lots of us know this, but that's not the point) you have really lost my trust.

Yes, I know the site needs to self-fund. And this tool was built with thetrainline.com. But up until now the site has always been very clear that editorial is not affected by income and is impartial. Non-affiliate links are always posted and links to site for which there is no affiliate option are posted if a better deal for consumers.

This does not seem to be the case in this instance and I am really disappointed in MSE. Trust one breached is not easily regained.

I guess you haven't yet read MSE's Cheap Train Tickets article?

Or perhaps you did, but just missed this bit:

How do I buy split tickets?

If you're buying advance tickets: If you're using the desktop tool, just fill in your journey details, and we'll find advance fares that fit via TheTrainline. The tool then takes you to its site, so you can buy your split advance tickets direct.

You can also book direct with the train company to avoid its booking fee. But we can only offer TicketySplit as TheTrainline is our technology partner, so buying tickets from it helps secure the tool's future.

That article goes on to say:

How does the tool make money?

The TicketySplit tool costs us a packet to run (we pay each time you search), but we get commission from TheTrainline's ticket sales to help fund it. Of course, it has booking fees, which some others don't - that's why we provide you with the information so you can go elsewhere if you choose.

If you do go through to TheTrainline, that helps ensure we're able to continue to run this tool, as it provides an incentive for it to continue to work with us, and we get a little back to help pay for this tool's running costs.

Looks to be quite open to me.

insert_random_name_here

Weekdays peak time train 06:20 Weston-super-Mare to Paddington. Single fare is £104. Website says no split available, however I can split £31 WsM to Didcot then £30 Didcot to Paddington. I've been doing this journey with this split for weeks.

yorkie2

insert_random_name_here wrote: »

Weekdays peak time train 06:20 Weston-super-Mare to Paddington. Single fare is £104. Website says no split available, however I can split £31 WsM to Didcot then £30 Didcot to Paddington. I've been doing this journey with this split for weeks.

I agree that MSE's Ticketysplit has many limitations.

As you say, it doesn't identify 'splits' such as this one, and also it can only ever offer one 'split'.

Have you tried Trainsplit.com?

I checked, and the 'split' at Didcot which you identify is found by Trainsplit.